Category Archives: Proptech News

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ROCE.co | Introducing the UK’s Property Investment Marketplace

ROCE.co: Pioneering a New Era in UK Property Investment

In an ambitious move to transform the UK’s property investment landscape, ROCE.co is proud to announce its official launch, offering a revolutionary platform that promises unprecedented efficiency, transparency, and trust for investors nationwide. Designed to meet the sophisticated demands of today’s property investors, ROCE.co stands out as the quintessential marketplace for finding investment opportunities effortlessly.

“ROCE.co represents a significant leap forward in trust and transparency within the property investment sector, addressing long-standing challenges,” said Miles Thomas, Founder and CEO at ROCE.co. “Our platform is meticulously engineered to empower investors with the tools they need for swift, informed decision-making, eliminating traditional barriers to success. We are thrilled to lead this transformative journey.”

A Platform Tailored for Success

At its core, ROCE.co is more than just a marketplace. It is an integrated ecosystem meticulously crafted to serve the diverse needs of property investors. By allowing users to search investments by type and strategy, ROCE.co ensures that every listing is not just visible but presented with critical metrics, facilitating a quick and confident assessment of potential investments.

Building Trust Through Transparency

In a sector where trust is paramount, ROCE.co introduces a novel approach by featuring verified agents along with detailed profiles, complete with reviews and essential compliance information. This commitment to transparency provides investors with a solid foundation of trust and the necessary data to make educated investment choices.

Revolutionizing Investment with Technology

Understanding the value of time and relevance in investment, ROCE.co introduces custom alerts and personalized feeds, acting as a digital assistant for investors. This feature ensures that users are immediately informed of new listings matching their criteria, spotlighting opportunities that align with their investment goals.

About ROCE.co

ROCE.co is at the forefront of revolutionizing property investment in the UK. With a commitment to innovation, efficiency, and transparency, ROCE.co aims to simplify the investment process, making it more accessible and rewarding for investors across the nation. For more information, visit www.roce.co

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Proptech platform Symple checks in with Sykes Holiday Cottages

Fast-growing proptech business Symple has struck a deal to offer its certification services to thousands of UK holiday home owners whose properties are listed with leading rental agency Sykes Holiday Cottages.

Sykes has registered Symple as a preferred partner as part of its Added Value initiative, which provides exclusive discounts and rates to property owners.

Each supplier has to go through a rigorous interview and checking process before being admitted to the scheme, to ensure a high standard of service and a product offering that owners will welcome.

Sykes, which is based in Chester, is one of the UK’s leading independent holiday home rental agencies with 17,000 owners on its books and a portfolio of over 22,000 properties, ranging from cosy cottages to larger accommodation for 20 or more guests. In total, Sykes hosts more than a million holidaymakers each year.

Symple is an online platform for landlords, estate and letting agents and homeowners which manages the property certificates they require by law for single and multiple sites, such as those for gas safety, boiler servicing, electrical installations, PAT testing and energy performance.

It is a one-stop shop that manages the entire renewal process for certifications, including sending reminders that they are due, managing bookings for inspections and arranging with key-holders for accredited and strictly-vetted service providers – gas engineers, electricians and energy assessors – to carry them out.

Registration is free for landlords and for service providers. Users can check the progress of each job and are then charged for each completed inspection.

Symple, which has its headquarters in Swinton, Greater Manchester, and an office in London, was launched last year by founder and chief executive Simon Dresdner.

From a standing start, its team has grown to 15 and its portfolio to 5,000 properties. Symple is aiming to double its pool of service providers to 2,000 over the next 12 months in line with increasing demand, as it also looks to expand its offering to include repairs and maintenance, cleaning, pest control and property valuations.

Simon said: “Our preferred partner agreement with Sykes Holiday Cottages is a superb opportunity to grow our business by taking our services to holiday home owners across the country.

“We pride ourselves on taking away the headaches for property owners with a straightforward process that manages the entire renewal process for certifications.

“Becoming a preferred partner with such a prestigious company as Sykes is a real feather in our cap as we continue our growth journey, and we look forward to working with holiday property owners across the country through this arrangement.”

Dominique Morelis, Sykes’ Added Value & Estate Agent Specialist, said: “We aim to help our owners in any way we can, including with setting up, managing and maintaining properties, and Symple will definitely support us with this.

“The platform will aid with the management of health and safety requirements and other certification that is required by law.

“Owners can book inspections that will not conflict with guest check-in times, and Symple will liaise with the key-holder if the owner lives in a different part of the country.

“We believe that having Symple on board will strengthen our offering for property owners across the country as we work towards being the number one provider of UK breaks.”

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Hotly Anticipated Property Management Tool Property Store Launches

Advanced property management and CRM tool Property Store has officially launched, with its impressive suite of features available to subscribers immediately. 

The hotly anticipated SaaS solution aims to make property management simple, offering users a holistic view of their property portfolios, by bringing all the data around sourcing and managing multiple locations into one, singular system. 

Jake Barlow, Founder of Property Store said: “We’re so excited to finally launch Property Store and see what a difference this tool can make to property professionals. As a buy-to-let investor myself, I was frequently overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information that has to be managed just for a single property. My reality was a huge number of spreadsheets, tabs and documents that were all in use simultaneously, and not only does that get confusing, it makes it really easy to lose or misplace important information just when it’s needed the most.”

“Property Store will help give back time to busy property professionals, whilst helping them to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible. Ultimately, Property Store has been created for landlords, by landlords.” 

As well as keeping track of a landlord’s existing and potential portfolio through lettings management and deal sourcing capabilities, Property Store also includes a range of additional unique tools. An advanced scheduling system for viewings, in-built automated communication methods for dealing with tenants and even dedicated networking forums to help build up contacts within the industry, are all part of the solution. 

Typically, the property management systems already available either deal with just the front or back end of management. Property Store aims to be a universal solution, and one that works with professionals from deal sourcing right through to tenancy management. Looking after lettings has never been easier, and Property Store is available for professionals with properties anywhere in the UK. 

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Advanced property management tool Property Store revealed

Advanced property management and CRM tool Property Store has been revealed today, with an official launch confirmed for the 7th June. Aiming to make property management simple, the innovative solution offers users a holistic view of their property portfolios, by bringing all the data around sourcing and managing multiple locations into one, singular system.

As well as keeping track of a landlord’s existing and potential portfolio through lettings management and deal sourcing capabilities, Property Store also includes a range of additional unique tools. An advanced scheduling system for viewings, in-built automated communication methods for dealing with tenants and even dedicated networking forums to help build up contacts within the industry, are all part of the solution.

The integrated investment calculator also helps investors to assess the potential of a particular property, whilst automatic PDF download capabilities make it easier than ever to share information and updates with all stakeholders involved in a project. These added extras position the software as a necessity for anyone managing buy-to-let properties, be it one or one hundred, and it is designed to grow alongside a portfolio over time.

Jake Barlow, Founder of Property Store said: “As a buy-to-let investor, I was frequently overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information that has to be managed just for a single property. My reality was a huge number of spreadsheets, tabs and documents that were all in use simultaneously, and not only does that get confusing, it makes it really easy to lose or misplace important information just when it’s needed the most.”

“Our sector has been crying out for a tool that works as a one-stop-shop for landlords and portfolio managers, but with so many areas to navigate, there hasn’t been a universal solution. This is why we’ve created Property Store, in order to help give back time to busy property professionals, whilst helping them to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible. Ultimately, Property Store has been created for landlords, by landlords.”

Typically, the property management systems already available either deal with just the front or back end of management. Property Store aims to be a universal solution, and one that works with professionals from deal sourcing right through to tenancy management. Looking after lettings has never been easier, and Property Store is available for professionals with properties anywhere in the UK.

Property Store is currently available to a limited number of users. To join the waitlist and receive 10% discount for 6 Months, visit: https://www.property-store.co.uk/join-the-waitlist

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European investment platform Estateguru launches in the UK

Today, Estateguru Marketplace Limited, the property investment and financing platform, announces its first office opening in Manchester. It plans to start facilitating loans once fully FCA approved.

Following final approval from the FCA, the technology firm will facilitate property-backed loans for SMEs and present investment opportunities for both retail and institutional investors looking to get a return on their capital through real estate and development projects.

Estateguru Group was founded in Tallinn, Estonia in 2013 and has funded over €500 million in loans to 3,000 development projects and business plans across Europe since then. It hit the €100 million lending mark in 2019 and has grown exponentially since, breaking half a billion in loans in January of this year.

Estateguru Marketplace Limited will begin its operations in Manchester, funding property and development projects across the North West region before expanding its services across the country, with a London office in the pipeline.

The Estateguru Marketplace Limited office opening closely follows the Estateguru new office opening in Berlin, Germany, and is evidence of its mission to become the largest real estate investment platform in Europe by 2025.

Ross Gandy, Managing Director of Estateguru Marketplace Ltd, comments:

“Estateguru Group has an outstanding track record across Europe and one I am confident we can replicate here in the UK. Our offering is two-fold – not only do we offer an accessible route into real estate for retail investors, and a reliable source of investment for large institutions, but our ability to provide competitive alternative finance options to SME borrowers is absolutely crucial in supporting innovative development projects that ultimately have a positive impact on the region and the local people.”

Marek Pärtel, Co-founder and Chairman of Estateguru Group, comments:

“Reaching the significant milestone of €500 million lent was the perfect way to start 2022, and set the tone for the year ahead. We have seen the demand for financing grow throughout Europe and especially from SME companies who are looking for professional, reliable financing partners with expertise in the sector. As such, Estateguru Marketplace Limited office opening in the UK market has came at a perfect time and is another huge step towards reaching Estateguru Group mission to becoming the largest real estate investment platform in Europe by 2025. We are excited to see the difference that Estateguru Marketplace Limited can make to the UK property and investment spaces.”

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Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors To Spearhead Latest Conveyancing Technology to Speed Up House Sale Process

Bell Lamb and Joynson Solicitors has been selected to spearhead the trial of a ‘game changing’ conveyancing concept that’s set to reduce property purchase timelines.

The Law Society has engaged with legal software providers InfoTrack and Perfect Portal to pilot a new way of making key information for home buyers and sellers available at a much earlier stage in the conveyancing process. This will offer more transparency when it comes to property purchases and reduce the chances of property sales falling through for the seller with aims to reduce transaction times following the acceptance of an offer.

The roll-out will see sellers complete a TA6 Form (Part 1) via the Bell Lamb & Joynson mobile app at the time of putting their property on the market, rather than waiting until an offer has been received. The form, provided exclusively by InfoTrack and Perfect Portal in England and Wales, gathers critical information such as building and planning applications, the supply of services, flooding and common parts shared with neighbours, for example. This information is then shared to perspective purchasers by the estate agent, giving them a full picture when deciding to make an offer.

Managing Partner of Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors Mike Leeman said: “The current conveyancing process can often be long-winded and occasionally, can uncover unwanted surprises to property purchasers resulting in a lot of back-and-forth, time being wasted and sometimes even sales falling through. Usually, the seller will instruct their solicitors to begin the conveyancing process when an offer has been made but by moving this forward, we’re able to give potential buyers crucial information upfront and the seller more security when it comes to the purchase.

“As a firm of forward-thinking solicitors, we’ve been considering various different options to make the whole process simpler, so to be invited to be one of only five law firms to trial this new technology is certainly exciting. We’ve worked alongside InfoTrack and Perfect Portal to enhance our clients’ experience over a number of years and we’re always keen to see and adopt advancements in digital innovation within conveyancing. We are now looking to partner with leading estate agents to offer this exclusive service, which we think will completely transform the market.

“This service will be provided by InfoTrack and Perfect Portal along with a small number of firms that they have initially selected, so we forecast big demand within our conveyancing team as we see the early submission of a TA6 form come into play this summer. Being able to onboard clients at this earlier stage will be hugely beneficial for us but it also provides the estate agents that we work with an additional USP when meeting potential clients, particularly as it’s a service that will not be available everywhere.”

Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors specialise in all types of residential property transactions such as residential property sales, residential property purchases, residential property transfers, and residential property remortgages. It is an award-winning firm renowned for client care and use of technology to enhance the client journey.

Head of Conveyancing and Partner at Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors Laura Cartwright added: “From a buyer’s point of view, the implementation of Perfect Portal and InfoTrack technology earlier in the process means that they’ll be able to access vital information upfront and avoid any nasty shocks down the line that could cause adverse outcomes for the seller – for example, sales falling through or offers being lowered which in term can then delay things like mortgage offers.

“This technology will simplify the entire process from the property being listed with an estate agent to completion day for the buyer, and in turn speed up a legal matter that can sometimes take months and even years.”

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Labtech Targets Intelligent Automation With Help From Roby.AI

LabTech, the leading provider of co-working space, serviced apartments, and omnichannel shopping experiences, has teamed up with Roby.ai to develop and implement intelligent process automation within its property business. The partnership will enable LabTech to explore innovative applications for Roby’s advanced AI personal assistant, which will target enhanced service delivery, while dramatically reducing administration and business costs.

“Our strategy is to drive added value that reaches far beyond bricks and mortar management across our London property portfolio, so technology sits at the heart of everything we do,” explains Itay Segal, Chief Technology Officer at LabTech London Limited. “Our aim is to build urban communities where people live, work, shop and play in a single ecosystem interconnected by technology, so we are working closely with IT and AI specialists such as Roby to make this vision a reality.”

Following a successful trial, the Roby software will initially be used at Camden Market to manage short-term licences for over 200 stalls that are typically rented on a daily or weekly basis. This time-intensive procedure has previously been handled manually using a paper-based system, which resulted in a lack of central transparency and a significant administrative burden for the on-site team. Roby will automate and streamline a range of tasks from reservations and approvals through to document management, payments and banking reconciliation, helping to gain complete visibility over the entire process.

Moving forward, LabTech intends to expand the use of Roby system to manage contracts, renewals and billing for 600 retail units at Camden Market, while also assisting with any ad hoc tasks. For example, following the easing of COVID19 restrictions, LabTech was able to use Roby to communicate changes to terms and conditions to around 800 merchants as well as coordinate the signing of updated paperwork.

“Because Roby is dynamic in nature, we can quickly adapt the software to handle new requirements, whether this is a one-off or recurring task. In fact, the speed that additional workflows can be designed, configured and implemented, factoring in all operational variables, is a huge advantage for us as we rapidly expand our business. This means we can also look at other applications for the software in other areas of the business,” continues Segal.

Tom Reiss, Chief Executive Office of Roby.ai commented: “Innovative and forward-thinking property businesses are recognising the need for greater technology adoption within the marketplace that achieve effective collaboration between technology and people. We are working closely with LabTech and other valued partners to help them take advantage of the huge opportunity that exists around AI-enabled intelligent business processes.”

Roby is an advanced PropTech solution that streamlines business processes. The all-purpose and bespoke automation software removes the complexities of day-to-day roles by performing many of the time-consuming, manual tasks that humans are unable to perform at the speed and scale required for efficient and effective consumer interactions. Built brick by brick by experts, Roby is truly autonomous solution that requires little human manipulation and can execute seamlessly across all the different tasks involved in property management. Because Roby is continuously learning, it constantly reviews and analyses process to identify unknown issues and free-up valuable management time.

Data, News, Property, Proptech News

Sprift selected for PwC’s Raise Programme

In a bid to further support its rapid growth, the property data specialist Sprift, has been selected for PwC’s latest Raise Programme.

Since its launch in 2016, Sprift has worked tirelessly to change market behaviours through improved UK property data – helping to reduce transaction fall-through rates. To date, there are over 28 million properties stored on the Sprift platform. The company has produced nearly 500,000 reports for clients and saved them more than £19.5 million worth of research hours.

The objective of the Raise programme is to make the fundraising process for entrepreneurs and investors as efficient as possible, and to minimise the high levels of disruption typically associated with a fundraise for the management team. This culminates in PwC holding an investor day with 60 warm institutional investors to help propel the selected businesses forwards.

Matt Gilpin, CEO at Sprift, said: “We are thrilled to have been selected to be part of such an impressive programme, and to have made the cut and belong to the top 0.5% of applicants selected. It is excellent to be aligned with a prestigious brand such as PwC, and we are excited about the potential opportunities that lie ahead.

“Sprift aims to be the property data supplier to the industry, and for everyone in the property supply chain to have access to the same single source of trusted data – closing the gap between estate agents and conveyancers. In order to achieve this, we need to extend our marketing presence and to really ramp up our – rapidly growing – operations.”

Sprift offers the most comprehensive source of data on UK properties. The data is made available to any property professional to share with their clients, either through an online dashboard or fully white-labelled vendor and buyer reports. For further information, please visit www.sprift.com.